If his hip was healthy I'd have no problem giving Flynn a shot on a VERY cheap contract in a third PG role. He might actually surprise and earn his time at backup...... and if he doesn't, it was a minimal risk.

If the Raps can't get Lillard via the draft, Flynn is a decent young guy with upside that I wouldn't mind taking a flier on to backup Nash.

If we pick Lillard he'd most likely be a third string. But that would be useful because if we sign nash also, he's probably going to go down with an injury sometime throughout the season looking at his age. So having 2 young capable PG's would really help

If we pick Lillard he'd most likely be a third string. But that would be useful because if we sign nash also, he's probably going to go down with an injury sometime throughout the season looking at his age. So having 2 young capable PG's would really help

I doubt a guy like Flynn would be acquired if the Raps draft Lillard. I'm guessing Uzoh has the inside track on being the 3rd string/emergency PG. I can't see BC tying more than a minimum salary into a 3rd string spot, given his track record. I expect a veteran (ie: Nash, Calderon or Lowry) starting, with a young player (ie: Lillard, Flynn) backing up the veteran, with either Uzoh or a cheap veteran (similar to D.Martin, A.Carter) assuming 3rd string duties.

Give Uzoh a chance ! Only thing the guy has to improve on is shooting & he will be a solid back-up. But since he can't shoot, he's a 3rd stringer. But he can play D, big point guard & can rebound. That's a good PG to have with a ball dominant PG like Dion Waiters!

“I don’t create controversies. They’re there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention.”

But it’s clear there remain some hard feelings from the winter, when the Blazers and Ndiaye were unable to reach a contract extension that would have prevented Batum from becoming a free agent.

“He called to let me know he was on board and he said some good things,” Ndiaye said of his talk with Olshey. “But for me, the Blazers are still the same. They have a new GM, but it’s still the same owner, still the same management. So nothing has changed.”

I wonder how this works out. Portland has cap space and Bird Rights but I wonder what their limit is on him?

The problem with Batum is you are paying for potential which is a tougher pill to swallow than drafting for potential.

A 3 guard/wing rotation of Ross/DD/Batum would be dynamic.

Agreed. Batum would be cheaper than Gay and would also require less additional assets to acquire. I wonder how open Portland might be to a S&T, given Toronto's wealth of assets, if Toronto let it be known that they would make a crazy high offer to him?

Agreed. Batum would be cheaper than Gay and would also require less additional assets to acquire. I wonder how open Portland might be to a S&T, given Toronto's wealth of assets, if Toronto let it be known that they would make a crazy high offer to him?

Payroll is currently $28M. Add a little over $5M for 1st round picks. Add $7M caphold for Hickson and $6.4M for Batum. They suddenly only have $12M for free agency and a number of holes.

If Toronto struck early, they might be able to force their hand - especially if BC says, "Call me July 11th. Whatever they offer, we'll beat." If a sign and trade was done Toronto still has MLE and TPE.

Somehow adding Batum or Gay with Nash would make absolve BC for the sins he has committed in the last few months.

Payroll is currently $28M. Add a little over $5M for 1st round picks. Add $7M caphold for Hickson and $6.4M for Batum. They suddenly only have $12M for free agency and a number of holes.

If Toronto struck early, they might be able to force their hand - especially if BC says, "Call me July 11th. Whatever they offer, we'll beat." If a sign and trade was done Toronto still has MLE and TPE.

Somehow adding Batum or Gay with Nash would make absolve BC for the sins he has committed in the last few months.

The plan is clearly to get Nash and a top-tier 3. No question. The only question is whether Colangelo can get other teams to cooperate. I have faith that Nash is already on board, which immediately makes selling other players on Toronto easier. There's not an offensive player in the league that wouldn't love to play with Nash.

I think we'll be looking at a starting roster of Nash, Bargnani, Valanciunas, Derozan or Ross, and one of Gay, Iguodala, or Batum. And I'd be pretty interested in seeing what kind of damage that team could do over the next 3 years...

Definition of Statistics: The science of producing unreliable facts from reliable figures.

The plan is clearly to get Nash and a top-tier 3. No question. The only question is whether Colangelo can get other teams to cooperate. I have faith that Nash is already on board, which immediately makes selling other players on Toronto easier. There's not an offensive player in the league that wouldn't love to play with Nash.

I think we'll be looking at a starting roster of Nash, Bargnani, Valanciunas, Derozan or Ross, and one of Gay, Iguodala, or Batum. And I'd be pretty interested in seeing what kind of damage that team could do over the next 3 years...

I absolutely agree. My only concern is that my gut feeling is that Iguodala is the likely target. He would be a distant 3rd choice from that short list, especially since he could walk after just one season (player option for 2013-14). Now if BC also decided to target Chandler from Denver... Gay will be making about $18M per season on average over the next three years, while Iguodala & Chandler would make about $22M combined... just saying :-)